Industry minister seeks top talks over Aircraft Industries

Minister of Industry and Trade Jan Mládek has appealed for intervention by his Russian counterpart, Denis Manturov, to intervene in the problems of Czech aircraft company, Aircraft Industries. Mládek said the Russian-owned company has run up debt and without help from UGMK it’s future is uncertain. Aircraft Industries, based in the far east of the country, had a wealth of technological know-how and many skilled craftsmen, the minister added. Unions earlier warned that they would take strike action because of the deteriorating situation at the Czech company. Mládek added that he had proposed a meeting in Prague of all parties concerned. The company makes the LET aircraft but sales in one of the main markets, Russia, have dropped sharply. Many of the 900-strong workforce have been forced to take leave with reduced wages with fears now that production will be shifted to Russia

Author: Chris Johnstone